Coolant mixing with engine oil.....kawasaki ER5

[Jamie S]

Been for a run today (dad on the ER me on the TS) Did just over 150 miles, and when we got back I noticed that the ER coolant had mixed with the oil making a grey emulsified sludge in the sight glass.
The Expansion tank is empty so it seems fairly sure that it is coolant and not just condinsation.
Is this a common fault with ER's? If so what causes it?

The causes I can think of are
1) The head could be warped
2) Cracked cylinder block
3) Water pump seal leaking
4 Head gasket failure

Is there any easy way to determine which might be the cause? I don’t really want to pull the engine apart if I can avoid it.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

My first thought was head gasket....
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[Jamie S]

Just dropped the oil and it's fine .....

It's lost coolant and has a cloudy sight glass, yet the oil is like normal.....

[Ichy]

Its a bit vague but usually if the leak is the head or the cylinders then it tends to pressurise the system causing coolant to blow out.

I seem to remember that they can leak around the thermostat but that shouldn't get into the engine?

I'd check all the hose connections and water pump housing first, its easy if nothing else.
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[Whosthedaddy]

[Kickstart]

Hi

From what you say about the oil appearing fine and with the cold weather it could be that the stuff on the oil window is from condensation. I presume that going at the speed of the TS in this weather the bike had just not managed to warm up.

Was the coolant level in the ER OK before you set off?

All the best

Keith
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[Jamie S]

[Ariel Badger]

I would not worry Jamie. I think the bike needs to get hot and clear the condensation.
Well done on 150 miles in this weather BTW.
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[Ichy]

Since its not mixing with the oil then it must be leaking outwards.

I would fill it up and leave it standing for a few hours (got a center stand?). Go back and see if there are any drips or a pool of water.

Next I would start it up and let it run, revving it a bit while checking for drips, steam, or obvious leaks.
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Agree with the above, but has any work been done on it recently?

Most dodgy place for a coolant leak would be the O rings where the metal water pipes join the head.

All the best

Keith
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[Dalemac]

[martin3863]

kawasaki er 5 water in oil steamed up window emuslified white oil, water pump seals two one spring loaded one oil sel type cost 25 pounds aprox slight crack in spring loaded one giveing direct lleak into crank case dissemble water pump replace .|..